thread about a thread so shoot me- what exactly do you buy teachers at end of year?

[knittedbreast]

OK so my ds is in reception and i (cringe) didnt know you were supposed to buy teachers end of year gifts.

I feel quite bad now as his nursery (part of the school) had the most amazing teachers and i didnt get them anything :( i just didnt think.

So some questions:

what do you buy the teacher?

If you are considering wine how do you know if its appropriate -what if it turns out they dont drink? how can you be sure?

lastly, how and when do you give them the present? do you send your child in with it? seems a bit inapropriate to send a 5 year in with a bottle of wine you know

Thanky wanky

[Tortu]

Wine, wine, wine, wine, wine. Just saying.

I genuinely never expect anything (am secondary), but when somebody sends something it is always a very pleasant shock. But of the 200 children I teach a year, you might get maybe 3 presents (usually the Year 7 kids).

Agree that the most memorable and sweet presents are those that come from the kids. I do expect my A-level classes to get me something and they've always done so- I treasure those cards.

I wouldn't spend too long thinking about it.

[MrsMellowDrummer]

A costa voucher, so they can go out or a coffee and a bun during the holidays...

[GetOutMyPub]

I love the children's homemade cards or other homemade gifts. In the past I have received, handpainted mugs (from those cheapie kits you can buy in super markets), little paper boxes that the child has painted/decorated, photoframes (again from one of those craft kits). I tend to keep all these trinkets at school though

Flowers/wine/chocolates/ are also lovely to recieve. I would say no to giving toiletries except hand cream, as I think that they can be too personal a choice and many people have allergies.

My DS has 6 staff members at his nursery so I usually buy them each a big bar of chocolate, and then get him to "draw" on some paper & make a new wrapper with it, and then add a little message.

[Jonnyfan]

Secondary too, so don't get much. Last year's A level class clubbed together and bought me a lovely scarf, and made a cake for us all to share. This year some lovely sixth formers found out when my birthday was and came with a plant and some cup cakes. :) Can't go wrong with wine, though.
Nothing edible lasts beyond the end of break in our staff room!

[zipzap]

Last year ds1 (then 5) took in an apple tree seedling that he'd been growing for several weeks for his teacher and ta. We also grew some for ourselves - they were from an apple that he thought was particularly tasty - probably won't grow at all huge but thought it was a sweet thought as he liked doing the gardening g stuff with these teachers and was a bit of a twist to taking in an apple.

I've also sent in umbrellas as Xmas presents which went down well or those little pouchy things with a reusable shopping bag in a jolly fabric which you can hang on a bottle of wine. Might let ds loose in paperchase or similar as have noticed teacher always uses pens in a distinctive colour so let him choose one for her with the right colour ink and send that in with a bottle of wine.

Umbrellas do have the advantage of being easy to wrap (so long as aforementioned ds can ce persuaded that it is much better to give the umbrella shut and not open)! and carry and not having to worry about glass breaking if you drop them :o

[redwineformethanks]

My SIL is a primary teacher and every year she is inundated with candles...........so I'm sorry to say that she does pass some of them on, although she does appreciate the thought

Nice stationary?

It's hard when you don't know someone very well. I'd say you can't go wrong with wine / biscuits. I don't think it matters if biscuits linger in the staff room for a while

[BurningBridges]

I was on the other thread and I said I'd probably go for chocolate. This turns out to be true, because today I bought two boxes, then when I got home, I went for one of them. I did that Christmas as well, but at least then I had the excuse we were snowed in .....

[butterscotch]

Yeah at chrimbo I saw the parents at dd's pre-school giving presents chrimbo melt down (at time reduced salary mat pay) so I made some gingerbread bids with dd, and bought q cheapy pack of Xmas Woden decs in tescos 12 wooden decs reduced to £2.50, wrapped 3 decs I tissue paper with 6 gingerbread biscuits (in resealable bag to keep fresh!) then wrapped dec in gingerbread in cellophane wrap n tissue paper, tied with ribbon! Looked lush! And I figured if decs weren't to taste they could use on school Xmas tree...... Did same for Ballet school teachers (only cos others did think it's madness but don't want dd to get picked on for not doing what sadly seems to be the norm!!)
What frustrates me is my dd's preschool I'm on the committee so I do feel I need to do itmore so also I don't particularly like my dd's key worker she is ok but I prefer 3 of the others, nothing wrong with dd's not said that to anyone!
I'm back at work full time so don't do school run but to me a collection sounds like the best option then it can be something of value. I net staff rooms are swamped with best teacher type mugs....

[ImperialBlether]

I teach in a sixth form. Today one of my students gave me a £30 Next voucher as a thank you gift.

:o

[Cookster]

When they decide to strike and the head teacher can't even express some regret in the exceptionally rude letter informing us - it might as well have said "we're shut next Thursday F* the lot of you" they get what they deserve - DIDDLYSQUAT.

[pinkthechaffinch]

nothing.

ds is in y4 and I've yet to meet a teacher I've felt moved to give a gift to. This years is particularly poor.

[GwendolineMaryLacey]

What about someone who isn't actually a teacher? We've been going to a music group for 3 years but this is DD's last term because she goes to preschool in Sept. The 'teacher' is just a mum who does this on the side, is truly lovely, the classes have been fab and I'd like to get her something.

[neverputasockinatoaster]

Speaking as a teacher and a mum I'd like to add my thoughts....

No one should feel that you 'have' to buy presents for teachers...we really don't expect it, we're doing the job we are paid for after all, but we really do appreciate the time and effort that goes into choosing a gift!

Personally wine always goes down well but I think smellies are a difficult area due to allergies.... I have perennial rhinitis and spend most of my time sneezing in the presence of smellies! I love chocs which I take home, put in a drawer and bring out through the year. I especially appreciate home made stuff like cards and one year a mum made all of the teachers her children had some little cakes, she put them in a lovely box.

Regarding communal presents, ours go in the staff room but the admin staff always hide a couple of boxes away and bring them out in times of stress!

I love it when I get a 'quirky' gift, one that suits me and my personality. I love stationary and never have enough glue sticks or register pens etc. One year a child put together a gift bag of stationary items for me and that was lovely.

As a parent at Christmas I get a big box of chocs for the staffroom as well as for the breakfast club and after school club DS goes to and DD's nursery also gets chocs.

For the end of the year DS will buy a present for his teacher if he chooses to. Last year he got his teacher a necklace from sainsbury's which she still wears even though she's left the school and doesn't see DS anymore (I know her through work). I hope he does choose to get his teacher something as he has ASD and she has worked really hard with him and not complained when he's gone into a paddy!

[JoleneJoleneJoleneJoleeene]

I've bought before, that's gone down well...

Those big wirebound A4 notebooks with a pretty cover

A very good cloth fold up bag for life in a pretty fabric for taking marking home

Big lavender plant in a pretty pot

[HappyMummyOfOne]

There have been numerous threads re this subject on MN over the years, most teachers seem to want to avoid mugs, cheap smellies, home made food, ornaments and personalised items with teacher on.

I try and give presents that I know the individuals will like and use/wear rather than something that has to be kept as most people have limited storage space and staf must get a lot of presents over the years.

[jubilee10]

This yearI have bought:

Boxes of Hero's for the wrap round care staff (because Hero's they are!)

Memo block/pads with sparkly pens for the violin teachers

Tin of shortbread for nursery staff to share (ds is making individual cards)

Wine for taxi driver and escort - sn ds - (i can hand it over)

I would like to give book tokens but what I could afford (£5) would not look like very much or buy a whole book.

[MumblingRagDoll]

Last year DD pained some tin cans and put potted herbs in them along with a tag tied around and a message..her teachers seemed very pleased...

[scottishmummy]

i dont go for this crawly bum lick bling present for teacher
i buy biscuits,tea bags,coffee for staff room
nowt too fancy
because you know what the wags miss,is that regardless of how pricey or ostentatious the gift teacher wont regard wee patchouli any more highly

[MrsKravitz]

I had an odd experience yesterday.
DS had a favourite preschool teacher who was just lovely. He loved her.
When he left, we bought her a lovely hear shaped necklace, he chose it. It cost a fair bit (she was also retiring so I thought it nice to spend a bit more)
He is now in year 1, we ran into her yesterday and he didnt even remember her!

[MumblingRagDoll]

I don't think scottishmummythat iving gifts at the end of the year is an attempt to buy favour....I mean...the kds are moving on to a new class...so why would it mtter? It's to say thank you.

[MumblingRagDoll]

MrsKavitz how odd! Just goes to show how much they forget! I remember barely any teachers from primary....just one lovely one from when I was about 10!

[scottishmummy]

yes but it gets bit blingy and comptitive.for some its straight forward approopriate gift.others give xmas,easter and and term suck up gifts

[MumblingRagDoll]

Do they? How odd....I would feel uncomforable doing that!

[JemimaMop]

I usually buy wine for the teachers and small chocs for the TAs at Christmas.

I try to make the end of year presents relevant to the child who is leaving the class. Last year when DS1 moved up he made a cross stitch bookmark for his teacher as she had been instrumental in setting up a craft club in school which he really enjoyed. This year DS2 is moving up and as he is known as the class bookworm I am going to get a book token to buy a book for the classroom plus some small chocs for each teacher/TA.

[scottishmummy]

i dont.but aye easter,Xmas suck up gifts have been asked to contribute.i dont.i
do sign xmas card